Stories from your neighbors: Meet Judy
Name: Judy
Neighborhood: Point Reyes Station
Type of rental: One JADU and one ADU
Why did you decide to create/rent both an ADU and a JADU through the RCR program?
Two of the bedrooms in my four bedroom house had been used for b&b. I did not need four bedrooms. And I didn’t want to live alone in this big house, but I did not want to operate a b&b.
I hoped to provide housing for some of the wonderful people who work in West Marin, but who are not able to find affordable housing locally, and I wanted income to offset the property taxes.
What has your experience been like since you started renting? What have been the benefits?
The tenants have been “good neighbors” and I’ve enjoyed having them around.
The benefits have been what I anticipated and then some: For example, the tenants in the ADU take the trash out, decorated the exterior of the house for Christmas, and check on my space when I’m away. The tenant in the JADU and I occasionally exchange flowers and food. She mended a sweater for me, and she helped me with a couple of tasks when I broke my hand.
How did CLAM/RCR support you in this process?
When I contacted CLAM, Ruth Lopez made arrangements to have a local architect do an initial assessment of what would be involved in creating the rental units. Ruth helped me put together a request for an interest-free Marin County affordable housing loan to help cover the cost of creating the JADU.
She also found the tenant for the JADU, drafted the rental agreements for me, and did a “due diligence” check on the prospective tenants for both units. Ruth’s wonderful support made it possible for me to create and rent these units while I was in the process of getting a new roof on the building and making other necessary repairs and upgrades. In retrospect, calling CLAM to inquire about creating affordable rental units was one of the most productive calls I made while renovating my new home in the summer and fall of 2018.
What would you say to someone who is thinking about this program?
I highly recommend the program, and I’ll be happy to share my experience with anyone considering participating.
What is your favorite part of being a resident of West Marin/what do you love most about this community?
I love the fact that West Marin truly is a “community,” one where neighbors look out for each other. As an equestrian, I was drawn to West Marin over 40 years ago because of the open space and riding trails.